Poland and Turkey join forces to circumvent Russia’s ban on import

Turkey is offering Poland to help it bypass Russia’s import ban by exporting Polish merchandise to Russia indirectly through Turkey, the Polish media reported.

“I have a wonderful solution,” Yusuf Ziya Ozcan, ambassador of Turkey to Poland, told Polish economic daily Puls Biznesu on August 12. “We will re-export merchandise from Poland to Russia. As we do not produce beef ourselves, some time ago I proposed Turkish meat companies to start cooperating with their Polish counterparts. Talks are ongoing. Turkey does not have as much food as Russia needs. Surely we do not have enough apples,” Mr. Ozcan concluded.

While some Polish producers accepted this statement with relief and eagerness, others are more sceptical about the practical execution of these declarations.

“This plan looks little realistic,” Witold Choinski, chairman of the Polish Meat Association, told Puls Biznesu. “Should this be implemented through official channels, it is unlikely that the Russians will not react. […] If this goes through unofficial channels, Russia will surely take an interest in where the beef comes from. This is why the re-export is not likely to work.”

An anonymous interviewee engaged in the sector expressed their surprise at the ambassador’s words reminding Russia’s admonition that any merchandise found in Russia that originated from the EU will be utilized at the expense of the supplier.

The advantages derived from the implementation of the ambassador’s declarations are obvious, but one should approach them with reservation.

If indeed the ambassador’s declarations are without ground, they could be motivated by Turkey’s aspirations to access the EU. Its accession negotiations were officially opened in October 2005. In December 2009, the Republic of Cyprus blocked 6 chapters of Turkish accession negotiations, arguing that Turkey needs to first normalize relations with Cyprus.

Therefore, the ambassador’s declarations might be too hasty and serving the purpose of acquiring Poland as its ally within the EU.

 

Photo courtesy of Myrat.